It has been more than a sore spot for girls from Upper Arlington and Newark that district
basketball championship banners stopped being tacked on to gymnasium walls when they were toddlers
and not even born.

Coaches and players from each team vowed to end those streaks since the banquets at the end of
last season. The Golden Bears have not won since 1989. For the Wildcats, it has been 2000.

One team will be holding the gold trophy after they play for a Division I district title at 4
p.m. Saturday at Ohio Dominican.

The second-seeded Golden Bears (23-1) advanced with a 45-31 semifinal victory over Watterson
last night at Westerville Central.

“We got to the district final last year with a young team, and we knew we would have a special
group,” UA coach Chris Savage said. “The players have worked hard.”

There is more reason to be upbeat with the return of 6-foot senior forward Chiara Paradiso. She
had not played since suffering a fractured left kneecap and burst bursa sac that became infected in
late December.

Kortney Eisenman, a 6-3 senior, is not surprised Upper Arlington won the Ohio Capital Conference
Central Division championship and has lost only to Dublin Coffman.

“We knew we had it in us because we work well together,” she said. “I think we have a good blend
of height, strength, athleticism and skill.”

Forward Andi Norman, who led the Bears with 12 points, said no one panicked after Paradiso was
injured. Kyle Croxton stepped into that role perfectly.

The trip to the district finals in 2013 helped.

“We got our chemistry the final two games of the season,” Norman said. “Until then, we were
9-11. We finished 14-12. And then we were able to bring everything back. We found our chemistry
early this season.”

Newark understands what UA went through without Paradiso. The Wildcats lost star point guard
Maggie Mitchell to a foot injury midway through last season and were never the same.

Mitchell, Royster and guard Emily Paul are a dynamic trio this season.

“There is a lot of confidence in that locker room,” coach J.R. Shumate said. “No question about
it, the last three years we’ve been talking about a district championship.”

Mitchell said the Wildcats are on a mission to put up a district banner. She has signed with
Ashland.

“We have a chip on our shoulder, and we’re ready to do it,” she said. “Last year was taken from
us a little bit. This is the most closely knit team I’ve been on.”

Royster dominated DeSales, which won the Central Catholic League title, in totaling 10 points
and eight rebounds in the first quarter.

“These games get me motivated,” she said. “I work that much harder.”

Asked about Mitchell being healthy, Royster smiled and said, “Karma is on our side.”